"She's been subjected to a number of punches, but she's managed to land a few of her own and escape from the attacker. She's done extremely well under the circumstances."

It is the third sexual attack on women in Nelson in two months.

At the weekend an 18-year-old was raped after she left a bar and on New Year's Day a 62-year-old woman was attacked and sexually assaulted as she worked in community gardens. A 22-year-old man has been charged over the latter attack.

The offender in the latest attack is described as Caucasian, about 170cm tall, of medium build with short hair and is believed to be in his 20s.

He was wearing torn dark blue baggy jeans and a grey long-sleeved hoodie with dark writing on the front. The hood was worn up and had a light coloured lining and a small tear.